Tampa Bay, particularly Pinellas County, boasts some of the best beaches in the state of Florida, and the entire United States. It’s why each year, thousands of vacationers from all over flock to the sunshine state’s Gulf Coast! Some come to party and others come for a relaxing getaway with their loved ones – it all just depends on what you’re looking for. To help you in your search for the ideal Tampa Bay vacation spot, here’s a list of Pinellas Beaches with a little bit of information on each of them:
Fort DeSoto Beach – Named America’s Top Beach by Dr. Beach in 2005, Fort DeSoto Park and Beach is a great place for those who crave lots of activity. Lots of hiking trails, wildlife, and even a place to camp, this beach has something for everyone. Be careful where you choose to swim here though – some areas are deemed unsafe because currents are too strong. Offers the most spectacular view of Florida’s breath-taking sunsets and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
St. Pete Beach – Larger crowds with luxury hotels, including the historical landmark Don Cesar Hotel. If you want to be around lots of activity in South Pinellas County, this is the place. There’s a large water slide outside the Tradewinds Hotel, lots of beach volleyball setups, and a slew of restaurants and beach bars frequented by both travelers and locals.
Treasure Island – North of St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island offers some of the widest (and whitest!) beaches in all of Florida. This is a very family-friendly spot, and is typically less crowded than St. Pete Beach. The Beaches are more accessible to the public, and there’s a mix of small hotels and vacation condos. The Treasure Island Boardwalk that circles around Blind Pass is particularly scenic, and a great way to watch the sunset.
Madeira Beach – Like Treasure Island, Madeira Beach is a little quieter than St. Pete Beach, and very family-friendly, especially with John’s Pass Village right across the street. Even in the summer months, you won’t find a lot of crowds at Madeira Beach, mostly just those who either live or are staying in a beachfront condo. As you venture further North, you’ll start to see more and more of Florida’s natural vegetation.
Redington Beaches – Redington is made up of Redington Beach, North Redington Beach, and Redington Shores, adjacent to Madeira. Very small beaches with mostly beachfront condominiums and resorts. Plenty of families stay out here, but it also attracts an older crowd of retirees. The Redington Beach Fishing Pier is very popular.
Indian Rocks and Indian Shores – The area of Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores is where you’ll find Old Florida at its finest. Very quiet, with lots of natural vegetation and some really neat vintage cottages and Old Florida beach homes. The area is mostly beach condos and tends to cater to snowbirds, retirees, and families who vacation and live there year round.
Clearwater Beach – Clearwater Beach is much like St. Pete Beach in that it’s where you’d want to go to see the action. This beach is most typically frequented by young adults and spring break crowds, although there are areas of this beach that are family-friendly. This is the “hoppin” spot for for the North County beaches, just as St. Pete Beach is for South County. Lots of restaurants and beach bars, including Frenchy’s and Shephard’s.
Despite being overdeveloped and lined with beach front cookie-cutter hotels, Clearwater Beach draws visitors because of incredible white-sand beaches, a large fishing fleet , and it’s proximity to Tampa and St Petersburg. It’s also a prime area for kayaking, shelling, bicycling and sunning yourself on the beach – which just about sums up the local ‘tourist attractions.’ Unless you count beach volleyball on Clearwater Beach, which is pretty darn good, too.
This northernmost barrier island is about 22 miles north of St Pete Beach and 2 miles west of downtown Clearwater (a separate city on the mainland) over the Memorial Causeway (Hwy 60). From here the road south is S Gulfview Blvd and north is Mandalay Ave, Clearwater’s main drag. Pier 60 is right at the roundabout where these three roads meet. From St Petersburg, it’s about a 1/2 an hour drive or a 1 1/2 hour bus ride. Although crowded, the scale of the island is humane (only 3.5 miles long) and it’s easy to get around.
- Pinellas Trail
This 47-mile paved bicycle trail, built on the abandoned CSX railway bed, runs from St Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. To date, it’s the longest urban trail in the country. It’s also very smooth – smooth enough for inline skates or roller skates as well as bicycles. There are lots of stops along the way, with cafes, pubs, bike shops, skate shops and fast-food places. As it’s on the route of the old railway, the corridor cuts through widely carnied terrain: sometimes you’re in the middle of downtown, sometimes along waterways, sometimes among orange groves and sometimes you’re riding practically through people’s backyards.
From the Clearwater Beach International Youth Hotel, which rents bikes, head over the causeway, and ride north on fort Harrison Ave and east on Jones St for about three blocks. You’ll pick up the southern end of the Clearwater to Tarpon Springs section of the path. It’s 13.2 miles from Jones St to Tarpon Ave.
Contact the Pinellas County Planning Department (727-464-4751; 600 Cleveland St, Pinellas; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri) for their free guidebook listing rest stops and local attractions; it also has a mileage chart.
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Roller Blading is a great, fun way to exercise while enjoying really great, tropical Florida scenery. Blading is less taxing on your joints and lets you enjoy longer excursions than running might allow. Having just moved back home after living up in cold New England- I decided to scope out the best top 5 spots to roller blade in the area to get just the right mix of blading and fun scenery.
After extensive research, I happened upon 5 very different and unique trails:
1. Pinellas Trail- longest trail in Pinellas County
2. Fort Desoto – breathtaking views of the water, sunshine skyway and you can even glimpse a manatee or two.
3. Skyway Trail
4. Old Gandy Bridge (Friendship Trail Bridge)
5. Upper Tampa Bay Trail
These top 5 roller blading destinations are spacious, expansive and have amazing scenery along the way. If you are looking for a long trail or a short trail- the Tampa Bay area has everything that you need. The Pinellas Trail is the most popular of trails here in the area. It has a variety of vendors and watering holes along the way to satisfy your thirst amongst the hot and humid weather.
In my research I also found a really great group that gathers each Sunday morning for various Roller Blading excursions around the bay. The Sunday Bladers group is an energetic group that takes rollerblading seriously!
The choices are many; but always remember to wear your safety gear when roller blading. Bring a camel back too so you have a constant supply of H2O.
Melissa Gallagher is the founder and president of Healthy Being, LLC. She is currently completing her Doctorate of Naturopathy and CNHP (Certification for Natural Health Practitioner) and fell upon natural health and healing as a means to combat a severe case of mono she had over 4 years ago. Ms. Gallagher’s passion is in her ability to coach and council her clients in best practices for superior healthy. Currently undergoing the trademark process is her Healthy Living Consulting business where Ms. Gallagher works with clients in their offices or homes and sculpts individualized, targeted programs that address their health concerns. In addition to individualized health consulting Heatlhy Being launched Healthy Being in a Box: a product line that produces specific kits that contain a variety of specific vitamins and supplements, homeopathic products and herbal remedies that target various ailments and health concerns. For more details please visit http://healthybeings.blogspot.com
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Florida’s Suncoast is where you will find the picturesque beachfront communities of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. It isn’t unusual for this trio of pristine coastal real estate to be referred to as one area. In fact, the combination of these municipalities, and their proximity to the bay, is more commonly knows as: “The Tampa Bay Area”.
The treasure-trio of Tampa – St. Pete – Clearwater share in having award-winning gemstones like sandy, premier beaches and plenty of water related recreational activities. But each city also has its own eclectic flavor that is reflected throughout the various neighborhoods that exist in these towns, and also via the vibrant residents living there.
Tampa, as previously mentioned, is situated near the western coast of Florida. The city of Tampa is located in Hillsborough County and serves as Hillsborough’s county seat. Tampa is bordered by the waters of Old Tampa Bay, and Hillsborough Bay, which converge, forming “Tampa Bay,” as it flows towards the Gulf of Mexico. Tampa consists of approximately 112 miles of exquisitely beautiful land and 58 miles of the purest water.
Tampa has world famous attractions such as: South Tampa’s Hyde Park, with upscale shops, theaters, and restaurants. The Seminole Gaming Palace: A casino located on the Seminole Indian Reservation. The Tampa Grand Prix: An entertainment complex with two race tracks, a game room, and two separate 18-hole miniature golf courses. These and other attractions help to fuel Tampa’s economy.
Employment in Tampa is primarily in the tourism and services industries, although more and more high tech companies are relocating their headquarters here. New homes in the area can be found starting around $ 200,000. Condos are plentiful in Tampa and prices are reasonable and negotiable. Tampa has many golf course communities and large luxury home sites too.
West of Tampa is the city of Clearwater, located in Pinellas County. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County and is comprised of 38 miles of land and 12 miles of water. Clearwater is home to two of the nation’s top beaches, Clearwater Beach and Sand Key Beach. Clearwater, Florida is steeped in history dating back to the native peoples that inhabited this extraordinarily, beautiful peninsula located on Florida’s western coast, and the Spanish explorers who first encountered them in their world explorations.
Employment in Clearwater is bright with many high tech jobs available. The education, healthcare, and manufacturing industries also fuel this cities economy. Small condo prices begin around $ 70,000 and small single family homes start at roughly $ 180,000 and can go up into the millions for large estate size waterfront property. The medium home price currently is about $ 250,000. There are many fantastic properties available in Clearwater for first time home buyers, those relocating from the north or for anyone wanting to upgrade their lifestyle. The cost of living is estimated to be some 5% less than the national average for costs of living.
St. Petersburg, also located in Pinellas County, Florida is most often referred to by its shorter moniker: St. Pete. This city has approximately 59 miles of premium land and about 73 miles of water. The buildings throughout this city display some of the most spectacularly detailed architecture and craftsmanship to be found anywhere else. Downtown’s waterfront not only adds charm to this city, it is where you can board a boat to take in some dolphin watching for a fun-filled day. Tourism, education, and healthcare are just some of the employment opportunities in St. Pete. New homes and condos can be found starting at just over $ 150,000 depending on the area. There are many luxurious waterfront homes in St. Pete and many retirement areas as well.
The whole of Tampa Bay is well served by the world-class air transportation found at Tampa International, and Clearwater / St. Pete Airports. Railways, bridges, and roadways also serve residents and tourist.
The trio of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg with its combined pristine coastlines, sandy beaches, and the infusion of each city’s own unique flavors, creates a treasure chest of gemstones that sparkle brilliantly under Florida’s sun-kissed, semi-tropical horizon.
Bob Lipply is a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Real Estate area. He and his team have been helping families relocate to Florida and on the selling end get top dollar for their homes with great success. Lipply Real Estate also specializes in Clearwater Real Estate, visit his website where you can search the MLS for up to date available homes for sale.
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The Gulf Coast of Florida in the Tampa Bay vicinity has the most pristine coastline and premium beach real estate that just cannot be duplicated elsewhere. The spectacular, natural landscapes and clear, warm Gulf waters have made this area, also known as the Sun Coast, popular for tourists and for those moving to Florida.
Golf has long been a popular pursuit for Floridians and visitors. Recognizing this, the State of Florida provides a plethora of golfing opportunities throughout its sun drenched territory for golfing enthusiasts to enjoy, and the Tampa Bay area of Florida is no exception.
With more than 70 golf courses located throughout the Sun Coast of Florida, tourists and residents can utilize the wonderful sand and surf to get in a round of golf like none other. The sights, sounds, and scents that surround you will add depth to your golf game, whether you are taking in a quick 9 holes, or enjoying a full 18.
After you’ve had a relaxing round of golf, head to the water’s edge for a refreshing swim in the warm gulf waters. Then catch a game of beach volleyball, either as a spectator, or get in on the fun yourself. The Tampa Bay area of Florida gives you the best of two worlds, with premier golfing facilities and pure beachfront properties.
The influx of golfing enthusiasts, who have relocated to Florida’s Sun Coast, has given birth to several golf communities near these beach communities. This is indeed the uniting of two incredible pursuits in one. Do you like the idea of awakening to brilliantly colored sunrises, leisurely meals, and the excitement of a good round of golf? And then heading to the beach for a sunset? If you do, you might be interested in moving into one of the golf communities conveniently located near the beaches of the Sun Coast.
Here are just six examples of the kind of golf communities that are available to you in the Tampa Bay Florida area. You can choose from these and many other quality golfing communities to find the right place to settle in where you can easily play golf whenever you want, and then choose to spend the rest of the day at the beach relaxing.
Champions Club: The Champions Club, in Trinity, is in the heart of the tri-county area, which encompasses Pasco, Pinellas & Hillsborough Counties. It is made up of seven premier villages, all with a Mediterranean theme. Each village here is entered through their own private gate. The luxury of the Champions’ Club is centered around a $ 4 million Mediterranean-style club house. More than half of the homes here border the championship golf course at Fox Hollow Golf Club. Fox Hollow Golf Course is the last course designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones.
Cove Cay: As you drive over Bayside Bridge, you will see the magnificently manicured grounds of this beautiful golf community situated along Tampa Bay. This community offers residents condominium living at its finest. 24 hour security is provided at this gated community. You can take in a good round of golf while inhaling the spectacular views provided by the landscaping and the Bay. Residents are sprinkled among four villages and each has its own club house and other amenities. Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment is just minutes from this community.
Crescent Oaks: This Pinellas County gated golfing community is a committed golfers dream come true! Beautiful homes are situated along this community’s Private 18 hole golf course. Residents will also find a pro shop, clubhouse, pool, tennis, and both Fitness and Dining centers on its well-maintained grounds.
Lansbrook: Situated in the East Lake area of Tarpon Springs, Lansbrook is one of the finest daily fee golf clubs offering an exciting and challenging course design. Lansbrook is a first rate golf club surrounded by lush Florida landscaping and some of the most exquisite single family homes in Pinellas County. Visit the Lansbrook Lakefront Park directly on Tarpon Lake after a round of golf and enjoy boating and fishing as well.
Cypress Run: Nestled among Cypress and Oaks, this course is definitely one of the best maintained and designed golf courses in all of Tampa Bay. With extra wide fairways and fast greens, even the most seasoned player will consider a day on this course a challenge. It’s no wonder that two professionals of the PGA Tour (John Huston and Skip Kendall) have memberships here. Homes in Cypress Run can have panoramic views of the golf course that are unmatched in any other golf course community.
East Lake Woodlands: Centrally located between Tampa and Clearwater, East Lake Woodlands is more than just a golf course community. Not only does it offer two 18 hole championship courses but also a full service country club elegant enough for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and many other formal celebrations. The golf course is broken down into a north and a south course with large fairways and oversized greens. There are also multiple lighted tennis courts and a full service pro shop. Homes in East Lake Woodlands range from condos and villas to large executive style estates on preserve or with golf course wide open views.
Your local real estate agent is available to help you locate and tour the different golf communities and explore golf course real estate in the Tampa Bay area. You are certain to find one to call ….home.
Bob Lipply and his team of full time, full service Tampa Bay Realtors, work hard to find the perfect home for their customers. An avid golfer himself, Bob can help you find the ideal golf course community. View available properties at Tampa Bay Real Estate, or you can also call toll free at 1-888-423-5775. We answer all calls promptly.
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The Tampa Bay area in Florida includes the major cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. Tampa is in Hillsborough County and Clearwater and St. Petersburg are in Pinellas County. There is more to this area than just sand, surf and sun. While it is true that the three are the original main attractions of the area, there is so much more to Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay Florida real estate is one of the hottest markets available. Homes and condos in this area are hot because they have it all and especially location, location, location!
There are hundreds of homes and condos on the market every day leaving the Tampa Bay area one of the most desirable places to live in North America. There are also plenty of homes in Pinellas County at affordable rates for people of all ages should you want to live closer to the beaches. Families thrive in Pinellas County with good schools nearby, and plenty of park space for young ones to run and play. The beaches of Pinellas County will take your breath away each and every time you visit.
The Pinellas County homes for sale are perfect for the young executive who works in the area. It is close to major shopping centers and has plenty of quiet character for up and coming future CEOs to concentrate on their jobs while living in the peaceful surroundings of Pinellas County. Tampa is a short 20 minute drive from Pinellas County should you find yourself working in downtown Tampa or in need of access to the Tampa International Airport.
There are many Tampa Bay homes for sale that are just perfect for anyone, no matter your situation. Whether you are a young family who is purchasing your first home, or senior citizens who are looking for an active 55+ community that’s a little more ‘out of the hub’, then this area is for you. There is a wide variety of homes and condos for sale in this beautiful area of Florida, so one of them is guaranteed to be right for your needs.
Tampa Bay Florida real estate offers awesome opportunities for the young and the old. As mentioned before, the Tampa Bay area is also very popular with the aging population — senior citizens love the warm climate and the friendly atmosphere and are looking at Tampa Bay as a wonderful, safe place to retire.
Florida is a beautiful state located in the southern portion of the United States. Its warm atmosphere is about more than just its climate. The people that reside in Florida are pleasant and a welcoming factor to the area. After all, most of us are transplants from the northern states such as New York, New Jersey and Chicago. 90% of the people who live here hated the brutally cold winters up north and thoroughly enjoy having 365 days of warm sunshine to wake up to each morning. The residents that live here range from blue collar to white collar workers — from families to executives to senior citizens. Tampa Bay Florida real estate is for everyone who wants to get in on the action that Florida has to offer — mild climate, good schools, fantastic restaurants, superb night clubs, convenient shopping, boating, outstanding golf courses, and community events for everyone.
You really can’t go wrong. As they say in the real estate world, it’s all about location, location, location…and Tampa Bay Florida has a great location! Check out the Tampa homes for sale today and find your dream home or retirement get away.
Bob Lipply is a licensed broker associate with Remax Realtec in Palm Harbor, Florida. He has many years of experience in selling Tampa Bay Florida Real Estate and has helped many families relocate to Florida and find their dream homes. Visit his website at Buying Tampa Real Estate or contact him direct at 1-888-423-5775.
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Home sales in Tampa Bay are up 21% over this same time period last year and the inventory of homes available has fallen to under 20,000 properties in the Tri-County area. That’s almost half of what is was just 3 years ago, and 29% less than the available inventory of housing this same time last year.
Home sales in our area are the highest they have been in over 3 years.
So when I saw the story in the link at the bottom of this article on ABC Action News which indicated sales were slowing and there could be a double dip in real estate, I had to wonder what exactly they were looking at that would give them this impression.
The story said that a local real estate agent was “tracking what appeared to be a double dip in real estate prices” and showed a chart with the median sold price as an illustration. I was slightly amused but mostly frustrated.
This method of tracking the rise or fall of real estate value can be very misleading because a change in the median price doesn’t indicate how much appreciation or depreciation has taken place. It only indicates that there are more buyers purchasing less expensive homes than the previous period tracked. This causes the median price to fall. Conversely, when there are more buyers purchasing expensive homes in a given month, the median price rises. The median price indicates which price range is most active, not an increase or decrease in prices. Use of this number has become very common but it does not indicate in any way whether home prices going up, or coming down. It would be nice if the media would stop relying on information that does not portray an accurate depiction of the Tampa real estate market. It’s bad for everyone.
If the experts want to attempt to forecast a double dip, they should look at the “shadow inventory” and the affect it could have on values. That would be a valid argument for a circumstance that might create one. Standard & Poor’s recently reported that there is a 47 month supply of shadow inventory on the books. The shadow inventory is seriously delinquent or foreclosed real estate that has not yet been listed for sale. Imagine what could happen to prices if these homes flooded the market. Foreclosures in Tampa and surrounding cities are selling for approximately 45% less than the average non-distressed property.
You could also look at the number of Short Sale properties available in Tampa Bay and take the worst case scenario that they will end up as foreclosures. That scenario supports a possible drop in value because the market would be inundated with bank owned homes. Short Sales represent about a one third of the available homes in Tampa and the surrounding communities.
Using the “median” as a gauge for rising or falling home prices in Tampa Bay is misleading. It does not present a true picture of housing values in our area. Maybe the the experts will figure that out at some point and stop giving the impression that the real estate market is suffering. Things are much better than they have been in years.
Tony Delgado-Tampa Bay’s Agent
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Realtor Ginny Zukowski Reveals Tips To Avoid Money Pit Houses in New Tampa and …
Realtor Ginny Zukowski, GoToRealty.net, reveals tips to avoid money pit houses in New Tampa, Temple Terrace, and the Tampa Bay, FL, area as rules of navigating the local real estate continue to change in this tremendously tough market.
Read more on PR Web (press release)
Mortgage typo fixed, but Bank of America sued anyway
By SHANNON BEHNKEN | The Tampa Tribune Bank of America sued Barbara and Rick Borchers for foreclosure because of an error on the deed to the Valrico home they sold eight years ago. It turns out, though, the deed was already corrected — six years ago.
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Question by pinkpyxy: How is life in Tampa?
We currently live in Miami and are looking to move this year. I have some places in mind and Tampa is one of them. Where can I find a good priced home? I’ve ran across “New Tampa” during my new homes search. Does anyone know where that’s at? How is it?
Best answer:
Answer by worldstiti
many years ago i moved there from miami, it was not good. it was after mariel and tampa was a hard place to live in. it was pretty. it was quieter than miami, but it made me realize i missed miami
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Antiques Roadshow
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW's second hour from Tampa, Florida, finds host Mark Walberg and appraiser Leila Dunbar at the Tournament Players Club of Tampa Bay to address a range of golf collectibles. At the Tampa Convention Center, appraisers take a swing at some …
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Tax revenue will keep falling in Hillsborough, though not by as much
By Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer TAMPA — Local governments in Hillsborough County are likely to face at least one more year of declining property tax receipts, based on early forecasts from the state and property appraiser. …
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